MoDOT Lays Out 2013 Construction Projects

ST. LOUIS, MO. (KPLR) – MoDOT is laying out its major construction projects for 2013; among them, significant changes along a stretch of Highway 40 and along Highway 109 in west county.

‘We`ve got a lot of projects going on that will start this year on the interstate highways around St. Louis, said MoDOT District Engineer Ed Hassinger.

He detailed five main projects for 2013.

The one that will likely impact the most drivers is along Highway 40 between Kingshighway and Sarah.

Three full weekend closures of I-64 in this area are planned with the first one coming January 25th.

Here`s why, MoDOT is going to tear down and rebuild four aging bridges over I-64.Crews will add an entrance ramp onto 40 west at Boyle and an exit ramp off of 40 east near Newstead.A roundabout will be built on tower grove south of 40 and some of i-64 will be resurfaced.

MoDOT says the project will help with traffic flow as new biotech development comes to the area.

‘We already know that Kingshighway is pretty darn congested right now and we want to try and relieve that pressure off of that interchange so that we have a functioning interchange,’ said MoDOT area engineer Deanna Venker.

MoDOT is also planning major work on Highway 109 in west and southwest St. Louis County.

The road will be expanded from two to four lanes from route 100 north to Clayton Road and roundabouts will be added.

109 south from route 100 to the Meramec River will be resurfaced.

‘It will be a significant safety improvement, congestion improvement, and also that road is old too so it will get rid of some old pavement that we`re going to have there,’ said Hassinger.

Work is going to continue on the Blanchette bridge renovations.

And work will begin on replacing part of the Daniel Boone Bridge.

Crews plan to add a fifth lane on 270 south from Dougherty Ferry to I-44.

That will mean lane closures when workers blast out rock just like they did on 270 north.

Hassinger`s message to drivers: ‘Work zones are going to start up so people need to get off their phones, figure out how to drive, and be careful in those work zones.’

After the closure on 40, the highway in that area will be reduced to three lanes each way for several months.